While he drove us back towards Tyler, I started making calls, ending the last one as Hayden parked in his driveway. Right behind Kyle’s banana yellow Jeep. I shot Hayden a surprised look.
He shrugged. “Maybe he saw me at the protest.”
“Didn’t you go together?”
He shook his head. “I never got the group messages. Had my phone turned off.”
“Then why—”
“We should go. You ready?”
“Hang on. Just gotta send one last email.” Taking a deep breath, my thumb paused over the Send button. Please let this be a good idea. Then I tapped the button and sent the video to my entire email list, including several pro magic groups and newsletters I was a member of.
By tomorrow morning, I knew everyone on that list would pass on a copy of the internment camp video I’d recorded to everyone they knew. By the time the government realized what was in the video, thousands if not millions of people would have already seen it. No matter what happened tonight, at least the world would know the truth.
Leaving my backpack behind, I stuffed my phone into my jacket pocket then jumped out of the truck. We jogged around the house and across the backyard. Hayden held my hand along the way, probably to keep me from tripping over anything. It had been a few years since I’d last seen his backyard. They could have added all kinds of things out here to catch my feet in the dark…patio furniture, fountains, evil little ceramic garden gnomes. I told myself it was because we were moving so fast that my pulse had taken off like crazy, and not the feel of those long, strong fingers laced with mine.
At the edge of the woods, Hayden froze, and it was then that I remembered what these woods might mean to him now.
Once, they had been our playground, our private realm of innocent childish fantasy and fun. But that was a long time ago. Since then, these woods had also become a place full of dark secrets where his brother and so many others had died. There was no telling what horrible memories or ghosts these woods held for Hayden now.
I squeezed his hand, a silent reminder that I was here and he wasn’t alone.
He looked down at our joined hands in silence. After a minute, he took a deep breath and we entered the woods together.
We walked as quickly as the branches and undergrowth allowed, the only sounds the crunching of our feet on dead, dried up pine needles and sticks and Hayden’s fast, harsh breathing.
A few minutes later, we saw thin beams of light cutting through the darkness up ahead. The remaining Tyler outcasts had come as promised.
Unfortunately, so had Gary.
“Tarah, I don't like this location,” he began. Then he spotted Hayden at my side. “What the—”
“He's on our side,” I said, my heart racing faster. Please don’t let Gary be his usual pain in the butt self. Not this time. We don’t have time for this!
“He's a member of TAC,” Gary said. “Everyone knows that. Not to mention his best friend is its leader.”
Several people in the gathering grumbled.
Oh crap. I hadn’t considered how word about this meeting might spread through the entire local magic community beyond just the ones I knew, and who else might show up here as a result. At our usual weekly meetings, only teens came. But tonight’s gathering included probable Clann outcasts of all ages. No doubt at least some of them had either known or been related to the group of outcasts who had died along with Hayden’s brother last summer. And by the sound of their muttering, quite a few of them here seemed convinced Hayden had either killed or helped kill that night’s victims.
Hayden took another deep breath, held out his free hand, and a blue orb of energy glowed into life on his palm. “If this is a gathering of magic users, then I belong here. Just like the rest of you.” His grip on my hand tightened.
Staring at that beautiful blue orb, I bit my lower lip as pride surged through me. He was taking a huge risk, revealing his secret like this. Especially with this group, many of whom thought they might have good reason to hate and fear him.
And yet he’d done it to help me. He was here at my side, facing down my friends and even people I didn’t know, trusting me and giving them more than enough ammunition to land his butt in an internment camp right along with them. And all because I’d asked for his help.
If we hadn’t had an audience, I could have risen up on my tiptoes and kissed him. I settled for squeezing his hand instead.
“You're nothing like us, rich boy,” Gary sneered. “How do we know this isn't just a trap?”
The muscles in Hayden’s jaw knotted as he shrugged, closing his hand to snuff out the orb. “You don't, I guess. You just have to trust me.”
“He's legit, Gary,” I said. “I swear it. He helped me find the nearest internment camp today. Not to mention he saved me from being arrested at the protest this morning.”
The group fell silent.
“Is that right?” Gary crossed his arms over his chest, probably in an effort to make himself look bigger and badder.
It didn’t seem to phase Hayden. He used his feet to clear away matted pine needles and cones from a section of dirt, then squatted down and grabbed a stick, which he used to draw the outline of the camp. “The camp’s heavily guarded. Twenty foot high chain link fence topped with barbed wire around the entire compound. Double gate, single entrance and exit point here on the west end with two guards posted on lookout stands. Six more guards posted along the perimeter inside the fence. If they work in twelve hour shifts, double that number. Or triple it for three shifts. Plus the officer in charge. And they're all armed with live rounds.”
“Which they didn't hesitate to use on a man tonight,” I added, working hard to keep my voice from shaking at the memory. “They're keeping everyone drugged. Even the little kids. And they're using what looks like tranquilizer patches on anyone they arrest as soon as they grab you, so don't count on using your magic to get free during transport.”
Several people hissed or murmured in alarm.
For once, Gary kept his cool. “Any buildings?”
“Yeah,” Hayden said. “Two long metal buildings here and here. This one on the east end’s got two guards posted at the door, so it’s probably where they house the prisoners while they’re sleeping. There’s also a tent building here towards the west, maybe the officers’ tent or mess hall, maybe a communications center or where they keep the drugs and medical stuff.”
Gary leaned in, checking out the sketch. “What about inside the buildings? Any idea of the layouts?”
I shook my head. “We only saw the camp from a distance. But listen, we've got to move on it soon. The conditions there are bad. I counted twenty-eight kids there, none with coats or blankets. We saw a baby die in its mother’s arms tonight, and nobody even cared. And then they shot another man to death in the back just for trying to escape.” Remembering my phone, I dug it out of my coat pocket, found the internment camp video I’d recorded, and showed it to them. Everyone gathered in small huddles to take turns watching it. A few gasped, some murmured too quietly for me to fully make out. Most, however, were shocked into frozen silence.
“I sent that out tonight,” I added. “By tomorrow morning, it’ll be everywhere. When the government sees it, they might try to relocate the camp. Which is another reason why, if we’re going to do something, we’d better do it quick. Plus...” My voice started to shake. I paused and tried again. “...they’ve got my dad too.”
“We'll go tonight,” Gary said. He turned to Hayden. “Can you get us some directions to get us there?”
“Sure.” Hayden pulled his phone out of his coat pocket and mapped out the camp’s location and how to get there.
Gary checked the screen. “Seems easy enough to find it. Okay, who's in?”
Roughly half the group raised their hands. I counted twenty-seven volunteers.
Gary nodded again. “Good. Here's how we'll go in.” Using Hayden’s dirt sketch, Gary squatted down and started pointing. “We'll fan out and approach i
n three teams from the north, east and south sides. We might have to come up with something to distract the guards, maybe on the north and south sides, so the east side team can get in through the fence closest to the prisoner building unnoticed. Unless anyone here knows how to do some kind of cloaking spell?”
“I can.” Mike, a short sophomore at our school, had to rise up on tiptoes while speaking in order to be seen and heard from within the crowd of taller people surrounding him. They shifted so everyone could get a clear view of the new speaker. When he realized everyone was looking at him in surprise, he grinned. “What can I say? I grew up on Harry Potter and wanted an invisibility cloak of my own. Never managed to make the actual cloak, but I can make myself invisible at least.”
“Good,” Gary said. “Does it only work on you?”
Mike shook his head. “I can make it work on others too. But I can only extend it onto anyone within about ten feet of me. And anyone within that zone will still be able to see me unless I reduce the reach.”
Gary frowned and stared down at the dirt sketch of the camp for a minute. “Okay, change of plans then. We’ll send in one team at a time through the east side only with Mike as the escort each time. Then we’ll get the prisoners out the same way, one small group at a time. The problem will be getting through the fence. Is it electrified?” Again Gary turned to Hayden and me.
“Not that we could tell,” Hayden answered for the both of us.
“Okay. No need for magic for this one. We can just use some bolt or wire cutters for the chain link. Now who's comfortable with throwing energy orbs and fireballs?”
A few hands rose.
“Then I want you guys to make sure you're divided up among the teams. And I want everyone else to work on learning how to do basic healing spells tonight. We'll need to detox as many of the adults as fast as possible tomorrow so they can help us take out the guards.”
“And one more thing.” Gary's small eyes turned beady. “There will be zero mercy for those guards. Is that understood? They let a baby die right in front of them and murdered another outcast, and who knows how many more too. They're scum, and I don't want to see a single hesitation about permanently taking them out. If they see us and you've got a clear shot, you take it.”
Hayden’s hand tightened on mine. “That might not be a good idea.”
Gary turned to him with a scowl. “Why not? You said it yourself. They’ve got live ammo, and obviously they’re willing to kill us. Why not return the favor?”
“Because we should show we’re better than them. Use nonlethal spells instead. It gets the job done without adding to their case against us.”
Gary glared at me. “I thought you said he was on our side.”
“He is,” I hissed. Why did Gary have to be such a monumental pain? Couldn’t he see this wasn’t about anyone’s ego here tonight? Just because Hayden had one opinion different from Gary’s…
A twig snapped somewhere in the distance.
The hairs rose on the back of my neck. We were being watched.
Hayden took a step backwards, pulling me with him.
Then the darts started flying.
CHAPTER 6
Hayden
Gary glared at me. “It's a trap! Everyone take cover now!”
It was like the protest all over again, but with the added obstacles of tree trunks and branches and roots and bushes everywhere. Chaos broke out as people ducked and tried to run but were unsure of where to go. We were surrounded, tranq darts zipping past, lodging themselves in tree trunks and the ground.
“This way!” I yelled, knowing these woods as well as my backyard. How many times had Damon and I come here to play as kids and later hang out as teens?
Tarah and I ran in a crouch in the direction of my house. I couldn't see its lights yet, but we couldn't be far.
Then Tarah was gone. I heard her scream out my name, turned toward the sound.
“I've got one, guys!” Kyle had both arms wrapped around her waist and was dragging her in the opposite direction. And immediately I knew how the soldiers had found us. While inside my house sucking up to my dad, Kyle must have seen Tarah and me arrive and slip around back. He’d probably followed us out here then called in the soldiers.
“Kyle!” Cursing him at the top of my lungs, I ran after him and Tarah even as more darts zinged past my head. “Let her go!”
He ignored me, and now I could see what he was headed for. Soldiers with rifles had circled in on our group's meeting area, pinning down Gary and three others. Several more soldiers were already carrying off unconscious prisoners.
“Guys! Look—” Kyle's shout broke off as the soldiers turned toward him. “Hey, not me! I'm the one who called you in.”
Darts flew, one lodging in Tarah's upper arm.
An animal-like roar erupted out of me as I closed the distance at a dead run, ignoring the now stunned Kyle and catching Tarah just as her knees began to buckle. I carried Tarah out of there, dropping us down behind the thick, close set trees where Gary and the others were pinned.
Gary started cursing me right away. “I knew you were a traitor!”
More pops of rifle fire. I glanced up in time to see Kyle hit his knees. “I'm not one of them,” he slurred out just before collapsing on his face.
“That's what they all say,” one soldier said with a sneer as he and another ran out to retrieve Kyle's unconscious body under heavy cover fire.
As if any of us would fight for that piece of crap.
“Detox her. Hurry up!” I told Gary. Tarah slumped against me.
Gary grabbed her wrist, muttered something. She came around, but her eyes were still glazed.
“I can't detox her all the way, not right now,” Gary panted. “Gotta save some energy for the fight out of here.”
“Then you guys finish it.” I turned to the others.
One made a move as if to help. Gary grabbed his shoulder. “No, we can’t waste the energy. We need everyone’s help to get out of here.”
“Tarah—” I started to argue.
“Tarah never should have brought a TAC member here.”
I could kill Gary right now. “You heard Kyle. He must have followed me. I swear on my brother's grave I didn't do this.”
Gary shrugged. “Maybe you didn't mean to. But you still caused this. Besides, Tarah knew the risks involved—”
“She’s not even Clann, and she’s still risking her life for you.” I grabbed Gary, wanting to snap him like a twig for being so selfish and uncaring.
He jerked his arm free of my grasp, leaned around the tree, and threw a fireball at one of the soldiers. The man went up in flames, forcing two soldiers on either side of him to drop their rifles and try to beat out the fire.
“What are you doing! You idiot! If you use lethal force on them—” I began.
Gary threw another fireball, taking out a second soldier. “They started it at that camp. I'm just evening things up.”
I couldn’t save someone who was determined to die.
I had to get Tarah out of here.
I stood up then scooped Tarah up into my arms, her head lolling backwards on my arm then sideways against my chest as I turned one way then another and tried to reorient myself. But with the smoke rising from the two men still on fire, everything was getting confusing fast.
The smoke. We could use it.
I reached for the energy, ever present inside me, twisted my hand under Tarah’s knees so my palm faced outward, and mentally called to the wind. It immediately answered me, gathering the smoke to us, condensing it into a thick, short cloud with a small opening at its center so we wouldn’t choke to death.
Silence fell along with the visibility.
“We move as a group,” I whispered to the others. “Stay quiet and low, go slow towards my left. I'll keep the smoke between us and them—”
“For how long? You can't hide us forever,” Gary hissed. “Keep the smoke there. I'll take them out.”
“No, you c
an't see—” But I was too late.
Gary was already on his feet and in the smoke, throwing fireball after fireball. If not for the situation, I could have appreciated his skills. The fire he threw was like nothing I’d ever seen, immediately extinguishing itself if it didn't make human contact.
But Gary was firing blind. And the light of the fireballs gave the soldiers a target to aim at.
When they fired, the sound was louder, sharper this time. Deadly.
Gary went down, a replay of the man killed at the camp today.
How many more would I see killed before the night ended?
I should leave him out there.
Growling, I moved five feet to the left then bent over and set Tarah against a tree. “Stay here,” I whispered near her ear. “I've got to go get Gary.”
She reached out, grabbed my wrist, tried to say something despite the drugs still clogging her system.
“I’ll come right back for you, Tarah. I swear it.”
Then I forced my hands to let go of her and I took off running, hunching over to keep me just below the smoke. The smell clawed at me, raking up nightmares from the past, all but demanding I run away.
When I got to Gary, he was still breathing, but every breath came out choked with blood as it poured from his mouth. I grabbed one of his arms, slung it around my neck, and dragged him partially to his feet. Then I turned and half carried him as fast as I could back to his friends.
Behind the grouping of close-growing trees, I eased him down with their help. “You two get him out of here. I'll get Tarah.”
Movement at my left in the dark. Tarah trying to get up?
Gary grabbed the collar of my shirt, pulling me to him. “Fix…this.” The words gurgled out of him.
I didn't know how to heal. “I can't heal—”
“Not…me. Fix…this…” He flung a skinny arm out. It flopped to the ground. His eyes rolled wildly, as if he wanted to explain more but couldn’t.